Exeter endures 40 days of continuous rain as floods, potholes and travel disruption mount

Exeter and surrounding areas have been hit by one of the longest unbroken wet spells in decades, with more than 40 consecutive days of rainfall leaving roads damaged, homes flooded and transport networks under severe strain.

Met Office data shows that much of Devon has experienced near-daily rainfall since the start of the year, with Exeter recording well above average rainfall totals for January and early February. 

The prolonged downpours have been intensified by two major storm systems – Storm Ingrid and Storm Chandra – which brought heavy rain, strong winds and widespread disruption.

The impact on the city has been significant. Flooding has affected neighbourhoods across Exeter, potholes have appeared on roads at an unprecedented rate, and commuters have faced repeated disruption to buses and trains.

Devon County Council has confirmed that the back-to-back storms at the end of January caused serious damage across the county.

In an update issued on 30 January, the authority said flood reconnaissance teams were still assessing the hardest-hit areas, but that more than 80 properties had already been confirmed as flooded across over 30 locations, with numbers expected to rise as further reports come in.

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Roads in East, Mid and South Devon were particularly badly affected, with many routes left impassable by deep floodwater. Emergency services were called to rescue stranded motorists in areas including Axminster and Newton Poppleford.

Although Exeter escaped the very worst property flooding seen elsewhere in Devon, key routes in and around the city were badly disrupted.

At the height of the storms, a number of important roads in Exeter and East Devon were closed due to flooding, landslips and structural damage. These included:

• Streatham Drive, Exeter – flooded and impassable
• Road past Darts Farm – flooded
• Tipton St John – local roads affected by deep water
• Cadhay Lane, Ottery St Mary – closed for the foreseeable future due to a collapsed culvert
• Sidmouth Road between Ottery and The Bowd – closed after an uprooted tree undermined the road
• Northmostown – shut indefinitely following a landslip directly beside the carriageway
• Pinn Lane, Otterton – leaving Otterton cut off in all directions
• A3052 Boshill Hill – river levels dangerously close to flooding thresholds

Devon County Council said many of these closures were likely to remain in place for some time while repairs are carried out.

The weeks of heavy rain have also taken a heavy toll on Exeter’s roads.

Highways teams across Devon have reported dealing with thousands of new potholes caused by water seeping into cracks in road surfaces and then expanding as temperatures fluctuate.

Repair crews have been working around the clock to fill the worst defects, but council leaders admit the scale of the damage is unprecedented.

A Devon County Council spokesperson said: “The combination of saturated ground, freezing temperatures and continuous traffic has created perfect conditions for potholes to form. We’re prioritising the most dangerous defects, but it will take time to address the full impact of the recent storms.”

Public transport in Exeter has also been repeatedly affected.

Train services between Exeter and several destinations across Devon and Cornwall have faced delays and cancellations due to flooded tracks and signalling problems.

Great Western Railway warned passengers to expect disruption on routes including the Exeter to Exmouth and Exeter to Paignton lines, while South Western Railway services towards London Waterloo were also affected.

Local bus operators Stagecoach South West reported diversions on multiple Exeter routes, particularly those serving Topsham, Exwick and the city outskirts where roads were temporarily closed.

More rain on the way

The Met Office has warned that unsettled conditions are likely to continue, with further periods of heavy rain expected through February.

A spokesperson said: “Exeter and much of the South West have seen significantly higher-than-average rainfall over recent weeks.”

“Ground across the region is already saturated, so even relatively modest further rainfall could lead to additional surface water flooding.”

For residents and commuters in Exeter, that means little immediate respite from the wet weather that has come to define the start of 2026.

As clean-up efforts continue and repair bills mount, local authorities are urging people to remain cautious on the roads, check travel updates before setting out, and report any new flooding or highway damage.